Low levels of genetic variation among southern peripheral populations of the threatened herb, Leontice microrhyncha (Berberidaceae) in Korea

Levels of genetic variation and intrapopulation genetic structures of Leontice microrhyncha S. Moore (Berberidaceae) were assessed for six populations in South Korea, representing the southern most range of a species found in Northeast China and the Korean peninsula. Detected genetic diversity (H-es) was very low (0.024) and F-IS values showed large heterozygote deficiencies. The small percentage of polymorphic loci and numbers of alleles per locus suggest that L. microrhyncha has a history of severe or long-lasting population bottlenecks that have eroded genetic diversity. This study suggests that the Korean population appears to consist of two historically isolated and independently evolving populations. It seems likely that these groups have been isolated and unstable for a significant period of time. However, the effects of recent habitat fragmentation on the historically disjunct and fragmented population system found in L. microrhyncha were not those predicted from the lack of significant relationships between population-level patterns of genetic variation and population sizes. Most non-unique genotypes were shared by most individuals and the lower level of diversity, high levels of inbreeding and population differentiation as well as high rate of seed production indicated that this species is autogamous and self-compatible and probably largely selfing. Therefore, to preserve extant genetic variation, all populations must be protected across the small geographic range of the species to retain both allelic and genotypic diversity. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.